the fitkitchen blog

If your Christmas is anything like mine it involves at least 3 different family groups that must beseen, with the whole day’s movements mapped out to a timetable that requires military-styleprecision just to keep everyone happy. In short, busy and stressful.

It's also a time when holiday functions take up most of your weekends and overindulgence is commonplace, so it's no surprise that a lot of people finish the festive season a little heavier than they started. If you're sick and tired of the extra effort it takes to button up your jeans post-Christmas then read on for tips to avoid holiday weight gain.

Please note: this post contains affiliate links to products I love and trust, and think you will too.

We all have that person in our life.

The person that loves to cook, loves to eat and always appreciates a kitchen-related gift. We have a few in my family. Or maybe you’re looking for a present that will encourage a special someone to get into the kitchen a bit more...

Don't go with the generic voucher.

If you’re asking yourself what to buy for someone that likes to cook then the list below has got you covered. There are items to suit a range of budgets and skill levels, plus links to take you straight to the place to buy them – no muss, no fuss!

It's one of the most common goals I see when consulting with clients, and a simple google search of "flat belly" shows hundreds of pages of articles claiming to share the 'secrets' to a flat belly, or the 'best exercises' to lose belly fat.

Unfortunately, there's more to it than a few exercises and quick tricks BUT there are a few key things you can do, both short and long term, to keep your midsection trim.

There is a lot of conflicting information out there regarding nutrition, weight-loss and dieting.

The internet has been a blessing that allows us instant access to a huge pool of informative articles and hilarious cat videos, but unfortunately there is no guarantee that the information you stumble across is correct, helpful or remotely healthy.

Next time you see any person/company/product claiming they have the secret to fast and long lasting weight-loss a) don’t believe them and b) remember that the key to healthy, safe, sustainable weight-loss is a nutritionally varied and balanced diet combined with regular exercise and a good relationship with food.

Here are some of the worst circulating diet myths and why they’re a load of poo.

There's a big reason they're such a successful industry, and it's not just the convenience (although that is a big part of it). And I totally get it - my family is just like yours, there are nights when cooking dinner is totally not going to happen and takeaway food is a life saver. Takeaway foods are mostly popular because they're delicious. If they weren't, we wouldn't keep buying them. And unfortunately the main reason they're delicious is because takeaway businesses add all the sugar, salt and fat they can without having to worry about nutrition; anything to get you to keep buying it.

One of the changes I made when overhauling my diet to focus on wholefoods was to start re-creating healthier versions of the dishes I loved to eat growing up, and in that process I made it my personal mission to not miss out on my favourite takeaway items while still giving my body the nutrition it needed (ok ok, while trying to not get super fat). So for your eating and viewing pleasure I've put together a collection of some amazing recipes: 10 incredible healthy versions of your favourite takeaway foods. They've got all the flavour of regular takeaway with a nutritional profile that's actually good for you.

It simply means eating the right amount of a wide variety of foods from different sources to provide all the nutrients our body needs to function at its best. Simple, right? Maybe not...If it really were then obesity levels wouldn't be at an all time high and still on the rise. Good nutrition, while being vitally important to good health, is only part of the puzzle. The other: exercise.

I see a lot of misinformation (particularly on the internet...) regarding the finer details of nutrition as it relates to exercise - things like what to eat, when to eat them and how much is best. To help remove some of the mystery surrounding workout nutrition here is the ultimate guide to pre- and post-workout nutrition - an easy to understand list of what to eat and when to eat it.

I know I do sometimes. My plate is barely in the sink before I'm hunting through the kitchen for something else to eat. If this is you, you're not alone - and I'm here to help. Here are five reasons you're always hungry and ways to combat them!

At least as far as the manufacturer is concerned. Portion control is one of those tricky areas that can make or break a healthy diet because even too much of the right stuff will cause weight gain over time. I'm never one to pass up dessert (or a snack...or second lunch...) because food is there to nourish AND enjoy; it all comes down to how much you're eating relative to your body's needs.

To help you decipher if you might be eating too much, or too little, here's a handy guide to portion sizes.

As a qualified nutritionist, there are certain questions I get asked a lot.

Is fat bad for you? Does fruit have too much sugar? Should I cut out gluten? [just an FYI, the answer to all of these is usually no..] Without doubt the question I am most commonly asked is “what do you eat?” Or, more accurately, clients saying “just tell me what to eat!!”. So I’ve compiled a full day’s menu for you so you can see that eating healthy doesn’t need to be expensive, difficult or tedious. Here is the answer to “What Does a Nutritionist Eat In A Day?”.

Fit Kitchen Blog

The Fit Kitchen Blog was set up to make it easy for you to find relevant, accurate information about health and nutrition as well as delicious, (mostly) healthy recipes.

I feel that: if it's not delicious, then why bother eating it?...so this page is dedicated to showcasing lots of nutritious recipes that don't sacrifice flavour.

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